Movie enthusiasts worldwide have shown a strong interest in “Obsession,” matching the fervor of the film’s obsessive and murderous girlfriend character. The horror flick recently achieved a significant milestone by surpassing $500 million in global box office revenue, making it the first original film of the 2020s to reach this mark. This accomplishment outshines Pixar’s 2023 animated hit “Elemental,” which grossed $494.6 million globally, solidifying “Obsession” as the highest-grossing original movie of the post-pandemic era.
Notably, “Obsession,” a low-budget film depicting a woman consumed by violent fixation after a man makes a selfish wish, has earned the title of the highest-grossing movie produced for under $1 million. With a production budget of merely $750,000, it surpasses the renowned 1973 martial arts film “Enter the Dragon,” made for $850,000, which grossed $400 million through multiple re-releases.
Penned and directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, “Obsession” premiered on May 15 and saw a rare increase in weekly grosses during its initial three weeks in theaters, a feat not seen since “E.T.” By the end of its U.S. theatrical run on August 14, the film had amassed $263.4 million domestically and $238.1 million internationally, bringing its global tally to over $501.5 million and continuing to climb. The movie is yet to be released in South Korea.
Following its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, Focus Features acquired “Obsession,” making it the highest-grossing festival acquisition in history. The film’s commercial triumph has opened doors for its young cast, with Inde Navarette set to portray Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming “X-Men” installment, and Michael Johnston in talks to join Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in Universal’s new “The Mummy” movie.
The overwhelming success of “Obsession” has laid a solid foundation for Barker’s next venture. The filmmaker is currently working on a new horror project titled “Anything but Ghosts,” in which he will star alongside co-writer Cooper Tomlinson.